This is fully supported by the Government of India, as part of India@75 Scheme, a spokesman said.

Industry-driven initiative

CityConnect is an industry-driven initiative to facilitate urban development through scientific and sustainable means.

Kris Goplakrishnan, co-chairman of Infosys Technologies, heads the CityConnect Apex Council at the national level.

Several cities like Bangalore, Chennai and Pune have formed CityConnect and it is imperative that the initiative is embraced by the city of Thiruvananthpauram as well.

CC-TRV will be set up as a trust on the lines of those established in other cities of India.

CityConnect Trivandrum (CC-TRV)

CC-TRV will be set up as a Trust on the lines of those established in other cities of India. The members of CC-TRV will comprise of members of major industry associations of Trivandrum – Trivandrum Agenda Task Force (TATF), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce (TCoC), Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industries (CKTI), Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association (CREDAI), Group of Technology Companies (GTECH), Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), Indian Medical Association (IMA), Trivandrum Development Front (TDF), Trivandrum Management Association (TMA), South Kerala Hoteliers Forum (SKHF) and Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). An Executive Council will be chosen from among these members and a full time CEO will be appointed to run the CC-TRV Secretariat.

At a later stage, it is envisioned to bring in Elected Representatives, Resident Associations, NGO’s, Social Groups and other voluntary organizations as members of CC-TRV.

No financial assistance is required from the Government to run CC-TRV.

Objectives of CityConnect Trivandrum

The objectives of CityConnect Trivandrum are two-fold.

Identifying and making available to the Government and City Corporation the best-in class plans, programmes, approaches, methods, technologies as practised, implemented and used in other model cities worldwide.

Acting as an endorsing body that will help the Government and City Corporation design and implement reforms and changes for the city.